By Kevin Klein
Ling’s are gone, but Prawn’s rock on in the ‘Juan’s! Parts of Marine Area 7 are still open for spot prawn’s. Other than that, it’s tick…tick…Boom! to July 1st, and the opener of summer salmon. This is a pink year, so expect the freestyle floating fiberglass flotilla hatch that happens every odd year to be in full bloom come August.
Get your pink mini squid and flashers, or pink Buzz Bombs ready. Or just troll king gear. There have already been some Pinks caught off the Washington Coast. The Chinook fishing has been spotty out there, but it is on up at the north end of Vancouver Island and South East.
Hopefully there will be some Chinook around here. It’s really anybody’s guess how the fishing will be. We won’t know ‘til we get a line wet. Unfortunately it looks like we will not be able to retain unclipped coho in Marine Area 7 in October. The new WDFW regulations are on line now, so, as always, read carefully before you do any type of fishing.
Also, wWatch that horn spike on the nose of those spot prawns…lil’ buggers are sharp! Like a tiny, tasty little rhino. Interesting fact about spot prawns: They are hermaphroditic, and spend the first half of their four-year life span as male, then transition to female. Hey, it’s all good with me. As long as they can hurdle, high jump, or pole vault into our traps, that’s the important thing.
FYI – There are a few different ways to prepare prawns for freezing that will keep the best. Lately, we’ve been putting about two dozen, headed, in a Ziplock bag. Leave the shrimp somewhat moist, but get as much air out of the Ziplock as you can. Then, vacuum seal the Ziplock with prawns inside. They can be either cooked or uncooked, although we do most raw. Another good way is to just put prawns in a container filled with water, salt or fresh, and freeze. Milk or juice jugs work well for this. They will still be gold medal good for up to a year.
